"In the beginning... open source was pure and unadulterated. Over time, the idea of community-build software that is free and unfettered by sticky licensing terms and fees caught on with IT buyers, and the disruption of the old order began. Now, open source (Linux, Eclipse, Java, etc.) is mainstream, with many companies giving away valuable software for free and looking for ways to gain profits from their largess.
"Of course, the business model of free software isn't very attractive, so companies providing distributions began offering support and premium services. Even with support and services fees, open source, compared to traditional, proprietary software, was a bargain..."
